Chapter Sixty-Six: Winds Rising and Clouds Gathering (1)

Update Time: 2013-07-01

Roughly seventy fathoms below the suspicious traces discovered on Qingling's cliff, two figures in black moved cautiously downward along the sheer rock face. If one looked closely, both men had hands and feet encased in tools resembling iron rakes; with each shift, the sharp prongs bit deeply into the flat stone wall.

A lean man in black, taking advantage of a brief pause to catch his breath, glanced at the tool in his hand and grinned mischievously at his companion. “Seems like Sixty-Nine and Seventy-One just can't forget being hurled off a cliff all those years ago! Who else would carry ‘Ape Hands’ around everywhere they go?”

The man called Thirteen didn’t respond, carefully extracting his right-hand ‘Ape Hand’ and lowering himself half an arm’s length before driving it back into the stone.

The talkative man smirked and continued, “Thirteen, I fear the Young Master this time—”

“Enough!” Thirteen snapped, his expression sour and movements undisturbed. “Rather than speculating here, we might as well hurry down and see for ourselves!” He glanced at the still mist-shrouded abyss below and cursed, “Damn it, how is this cliff so deep? We still can’t see the bottom!”

“And you’d better pray the Young Master is still alive. Even if we bring him back with just a breath left, that’s better than the kind of punishment we’ll face otherwise. Especially you, Forty-Seven—the wound on the Young Master’s abdomen was your doing.”

Forty-Seven couldn’t help but picture the punishments awaiting them; his legs trembled, though the ‘Ape Hands’ gripped firm enough to save him from a fatal slip.

He shut his mouth, wiped the smirk off his face, and focused intently on moving downward step by step.

All the while, he prayed silently: Oh, my blessed and lucky Young Master, for all the times I’ve played along and saved you from disaster, please, please don’t die on us now. So long as you survive, you can repay all these injuries on me—it’s fine! Just don’t let us fall into the Master’s hands. That would be a hell far worse than death.

At that very moment, a swift horse galloped past the city gates of Heluo Prefecture, sending the crowd into a flurry. Someone began to complain, but a companion quickly tugged his sleeve and whispered, “That’s the Prince of Heluo—do you want to die?” The complainer immediately fell silent; not just anyone could speak of the Prince.

Before the stir caused by Qiao Zhi had settled, a squad of fully armed cavalry reignited the commotion, thundering after the Prince in hot pursuit.

Ever elegant and carefree, Qiao Zhi felt for the second time in his life the urge to kill. His heart was clawed by a hundred cats, and for the first time, he realized just how deeply that girl weighed on him.

Three years ago, he’d only found it amusing to tease her—she always seemed either teary-eyed or distracted. Over the years, thanks to his sister-in-law, he’d heard countless tales of her embarrassments, but always treated them as jokes, thinking she’d never grow up, always so entertaining.

Three days ago, by chance, he’d encountered her again, and she’d unexpectedly carried a rare air of authority. Later, at Cuiwei Pavilion, she’d taken out her anger for a few lowly courtesans on him, even throwing out a fierce “never see you again.” After escorting her good friend home, she’d only barely softened her expression.

Later, preoccupied with Qingruo’s affairs, he hadn’t lingered. He’d finally persuaded her before disaster struck at Cuiwei Pavilion; given her special status, he’d had to personally escort her to a villa outside the city. By the time he hurried back to town at dawn, he learned from his household that the little lady had sent a formal calling card.

He’d been secretly delighted, planning to circle her family’s estate before returning to await her proper visit—but then was told that the Yue family’s carriage had left the city at first light.

His excitement instantly cooled. Yet, realizing he’d soon be traveling to wish the emperor a happy birthday, he figured he’d see her soon enough. Remembering that the birthday gift he’d prepared for the emperor at Treasures Pavilion should already have arrived, he quickly returned home, bathed, changed, and set off with his attendants.

Treasures Pavilion was, in fact, a covert stronghold of the Hidden Sect in Heluo. As Qiao Zhi was admiring his gift in a private chamber, he heard a commotion outside and recognized Yao Yao’s voice—at first he thought he’d misheard, but listening carefully, he realized it was her, her voice tinged with tears. What trouble has this little imp stirred up now?

He put down his things, opened the door, and saw Yao Yao clutching the hand of the pavilion’s old cleaning lady, sobbing uncontrollably. “Grandma Xiao, it’s an urgent order… please, send a message for me…”

The old woman glanced over—her eyes now sharp and clear, nothing like the muddled gaze Qiao Zhi was used to. She took Yao Yao’s hand and led her toward the back of the pavilion.

Qiao Zhi, now certain Treasures Pavilion was under the Hidden Sect, called out to the girl following behind Yao Yao.

“Aren’t you usually with Sister Yue? What’s happened—why is Yao Yao crying like that?”

If crying could save her lady from being abducted, Zizhu would have wept herself hoarse, but tears were useless now. She’d planned to brush him off, but remembering Qiao Zhi’s status, thought he might be more effective than the local magistrate.

She stopped and recounted the events in broad strokes.

The more Qiao Zhi heard, the darker his expression grew. He’d already heard reports of the Tian family’s affairs while at the villa and held nothing but contempt for such scum—good riddance to them all.

Wiping out the second branch of the Tian family was cruel, perhaps, but a public service. The number of girls he’d saved far exceeded the perpetrators killed. If not for the magistrate’s rigid ways, Qiao Zhi would have rescinded the current warrant himself.

But now, hearing that this villain had targeted Lian Yue, he knew the man had signed his own death warrant. Qiao Zhi himself didn’t realize how terrifying his expression had become.

“Dan Ze, assemble all personal guards!”

“Yes, sir!” The attendant behind him gave a crisp military salute and vanished at once.

Zizhu was surprised by his reaction, but mostly relieved. Having served Lian Yue for so long and heard so much, she knew what the Prince’s personal guards signified—elite soldiers, separated from the imperial army itself. With their support, their strength was truly unmatched.

She was about to thank Qiao Zhi, but a gust of wind swept by, and when she looked again, he was gone.

Qiao Zhi left Treasures Pavilion, his expression dark as he digested what he’d just heard. Before long, Dan Ze arrived with a squad of well-trained men. Qiao Zhi spotted his prized horse, gestured briefly, and leapt into the saddle, galloping toward the city gate through which Lian Yue had left that morning, his guards thundering close behind.

In an instant, chaos erupted on the streets of Heluo.

Within Treasures Pavilion, Yao Yao, still emotional, finally managed to explain everything. The old cleaning lady, solemn-faced, listened carefully. Her name was Meng Xiao, an elder of the Blood Tears Palace and chief of the Hidden Sect’s Heluo branch; she was well aware of Lian Yue’s identity.

For someone to dare abduct the Hidden Sect’s second leader—clearly, their death was imminent.

In Yao Yao’s presence, Meng Xiao wrote a letter, sealed it with wax, and pressed her wrinkled, orange-peel fingers to her lips, letting out a sharp whistle. Soon, a piercing cloud eagle swooped down to the window. Meng Xiao attached the prepared letter tube to its talons, patted its head, and watched as it soared into the sky.

Yao Yao was no stranger to the cloud eagle; she knew its speed well. With it, Senior Shichen would receive the news by tomorrow morning—her heart eased, and her tears finally began to dry.

Meng Xiao gently wiped Yao Yao’s tears. “Don’t worry. I’ll summon every member of the Hidden Sect in Heluo and the surrounding area. The second leader will be safe.”

“Thank you, Grandma Xiao,” Yao Yao sniffled, thanked her, and left the room.

Outside, she met Qing Luan, who had come to escort them. Their task completed, they hurried to rendezvous with Qing Feng.